When it comes to selling your home, information is power.

"Most buyers tip their hands. Just listen carefully and you'll pick up clues that could prove incredibly useful when you're trying to reach a deal," says Ashley Richardson, a real estate agent affiliated with the Council of Residential Specialists (www.crs.com).

Through her more than 20 years in real estate, Richardson has repeatedly noticed how buyer feedback can assist sellers during the bargaining process. The key is to gain insight into a buyer's motivation.

She tells the true story of a pair of her clients who recently sold their small contemporary house on a wooded lot to a single woman. After a brief period of negotiation, the property fetched nearly its full list price. The sellers knew they could hold firm because after visiting the house, the woman left a note telling of her strong interest.

"She wrote about her excitement at finding the house and just how lovely the wooded lot looked," Richardson recalls.

Sophisticated homebuyers are often more cautious about expressing their positive feelings about a property. But even they will give out subtle signals of interest, says Sid Davis, the author of "A Survival Guide to Selling a Home."

"One of the biggest clues is how long the people stay in a property when they come for a visit. Anything over 20 minutes is a strong indicator they like your home. If they hate it, they'll bolt out of there in less than five minutes," Davis says.

Here are a few tips for homeowners seeking to learn about potential buyers:

-- Pick up the subtleties of what your visitors say.

"People don't always say what they mean when they see your house. Often it's quite the reverse. For example, some people will gush on and on about the lovely furniture in a home they absolutely hate. They do that to be nice and not offend you," Davis says.

Remarkably, those who lack any serious interest in a home are usually the most friendly and polite, according to Davis. Yet those most likely to bid for the place may often be more judgmental about features they don't like.

"It's a generational thing, but some older homebuyers believe they can get a better deal if they point out minor flaws -- like peeling paint. People in their 20s and 30s don't usually take this approach. They're much more direct," he says.

-- Take note of likely signs of buyer "attachment."

Buyers with a strong interest in a property often begin communicating this on their first visit. They start making what real estate agents call "possessive comments."

"People who start placing their furniture in your property are definitely gaining an attachment to the house. This is a good sign they're starting to identify with the place and to picture themselves living there," Davis says.

For instance, they'll try to imagine how their sofa would look in the living room and whether their bed would fit in the master bedroom.

-- Listen for remarks made by all involved in the home-buying decision.

Multiple decades of experience in real estate have taught Davis to avoid preconceptions about who within a family will prove most influential in choosing a home.

Indeed, Davis has noticed that the opinions of teenage children are increasingly important to parents who are selecting a property -- especially when they're comparing two homes.

He cautions against taking too seriously any negative remarks that teenagers might make about your property.

"In the end, most teenagers don't really care about the house as a whole. They only care about their room in the house," Davis says.

-- Make sure your listing agent collects indirect buyer feedback.

It's not always possible, nor recommended, for owners to be present during showings. And your listing agent may also be absent when showings take place. Still, your agent can gather feedback by calling the agent representing the buyers, Davis says.

"Within a couple of hours after buyers come through your property, your agent should be on the phone picking up intelligence," he says.

Although buyers are rarely candid about their reactions to a property in the presence of its owners, Davis says most agents are truthful with each other when buyers lack interest in a property.

"If the buyers thought your place was a dump and hated the floor plan, you'll be sure to hear about it -- though not in those words," he says.

-- Don't let buyer compliments go to your head.

Perhaps you're confident that people who've toured your home are extremely interested. And maybe you've determined they're under pressure to move due to time constraints or other factors that make your house ideal.

In this situation, Richardson says you should feel more comfortable holding firm to your price.

But she warns it's risky to take your prospects for granted, even if they seem extremely motivated. For example, you wouldn't want to make a counter-offer just to gain a very small advantage on price or terms.

"Remember that in this market, buyers have many, many choices -- if not in your neighborhood, then in other neighborhoods. So it's foolish to be overconfident. Prolong your talks too long or push too hard and your prospects could easily find another house they love more," Richardson says.

(To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com.)

She's a 28-year-old health care administrator with a steady job, and she's eager to move out of her parents' house. Her dream? To buy a modest yet well-kept first home with a fenced yard where her terrier can romp.

Despite the young woman's yearning for a home of her own, Jacqueline Hoff, the real estate broker working with her, says that her client is very cautious about the selection process and is determined to avoid overspending.

"She expects to spend at least $10,000 less than the bank says she can afford," says Hoff, who's affiliated with the Council of Residential Specialists (www.crs.com).

"Right now mortgage rates are just insanely low and you can get an unbelievably great house for very little," Hoff says.

Indeed, she says the administrator -- who holds a mid-level position at a mental health center -- can now afford to buy a well-built 2,000-square-foot house located in a nice suburb that has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a one-car garage.

"It's unbelievable how great a starter house you can get for your money in this current market -- especially if your timing is flexible enough to hold out for the perfect deal," Hoff says.

What's a starter home? It's usually defined as one valued at or below the median price for a particular market. There are several variations on the theme. But in many regions, first-timers can select among several housing styles.

Do you have a solid job and are you excited at the idea of buying a home in the near future? If so, these few pointers could prove helpful:

-- Buy ahead for your future needs.

"Most starter-home buyers, who are typically in their late 20s or early 30s, are shortsighted and buy only for their current housing needs. But if you can afford it, look for a home that will meet both your wants and needs for at least five years. That way you maximize your investment dollars," says Sid Davis, a real estate broker and author of "A Survival Guide for Buying a Home."

"Shop neighborhoods. Generally speaking, you want to buy into the most desirable area you can possibly afford," and be mindful of any future additions to your household, Davis says.

When choosing a first home, he says you should proceed on the assumption that you will trade up to a better property one day.

"Buy with an exit strategy in mind. And remember that people who buy in a top-notch neighborhood can usually sell faster and for more money than those who go to a lesser neighborhood where they can get more square footage for the money," Davis says.

-- Consider a starter home that would appeal to a family.

Many aging baby boomers are starting to downsize. Yet behind them are millions of younger families, including many immigrants who still long for a house large enough to raise small children.

"I don't care if you ever plan to have kids. Even if you don't, it's smart to invest in a house with at least three and, ideally, four bedrooms. If you pick a quality neighborhood, this kind of property will usually gain value faster than a one- or two-bedroom place," Davis says.

To improve your future resale prospects, also look for multiple bathrooms, which are popular with every generation.

-- Hold out for a neighborhood with great schools, if you can afford it.

Just as value-minded starter-home shoppers should search for multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, they should also look for a neighborhood served by well-rated public schools.

These days it's easy for anyone with Internet access to compare one set of schools with another on the basis of student test scores. Most school systems freely disseminate test results, and other organizations also publish them online.

You can also gain more elaboration on the pluses and minuses of various schools in your area by paying a relatively small fee for a report from an educational research service such as SchoolMatch (www.schoolmatch.com).

Still, Davis insists the best information on school quality comes through word-of-mouth sources.

"Just ask a few open-ended questions and many people will tell you a vast amount -- both positives and negatives -- about the schools in their neighborhood. A small amount of due diligence like this pays big dividends for buyers," Davis says.

-- Don't rule out a government-backed loan for your starter-home purchase.

These days, many lenders are insisting on large down payments for their conventional mortgage programs. Unfortunately, that represents a tall hurdle for many young buyers, particularly for those paying off hefty student loans.

However, as Davis notes, many first-time homebuyers are eligible for a low down payment mortgage through the Federal Housing Administration of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. To locate lenders near you that make FHA loans, go to this website: www.hud.gov.

"The only drawback of an FHA loan is you have to pay premiums for government insurance to protect against your possible default. Otherwise, an FHA mortgage could be extremely well suited for buyers with very little cash to spare," Davis says.

(To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com.)

For several months, a nurse and her accountant husband tried in vain to sell their yellow stucco house in an upscale neighborhood. But it was only after their real estate agent began promoting the home's senior-friendly features -- like its first-floor master suite -- that the place finally sold.

After their agent's change in marketing strategy, the couple was able to beat out rival sellers in their community. Given the aging population -- coupled with a shortage of senior-friendly houses in many areas -- the agent was wise to target the older-buyer market, says Sid Davis, a real estate broker and author of "A Survival Guide to Selling a Home."

"It's no secret our nation has an increasing number of older folks, including a lot of boomers with chronic health conditions and bad knees. And many older people want property that's easily accessible -- where they can live comfortably without the pain of having to scale stairs or overcome other barriers to mobility," Davis says.

Granted, one-level apartment-style condos are widely available in numerous communities. But according to Davis, many seniors who've spent their adult lives in detached suburban housing have an intense aversion to apartment living.

"They say they'd feel trapped if they had to live in a condo," he says.

Dorcas Helfant, a real estate broker and former president of the National Association of Realtors (www.realtor.org), says some seniors who try apartment living later reverse course, heading back to a traditional detached house.

"We've had people who've come out of a high-rise condo after trying it for just one year. A single-family house is part of their heritage, and that's where they feel at ease," Helfant says.

Some seniors who try apartment living miss the privacy of a detached house.

"They don't want to have to get in an elevator and see other people just to get outside for a walk. They want more personal space and a little land around them, including a small garden," says Helfant.

Are you seeking to sell a detached house with features that would make it suitable for older buyers or people with disabilities? And do you and your listing agent believe such features are in high demand among buyers in your community? If so, these few pointers might be helpful:

-- Assess the market supply of senior-friendly houses in your area.

A number of suburban areas where tracts of ranch-style homes were built during the decades after World War II are still well stocked with these one-level properties, many of which have been expanded and updated.

But as the cost of buildable land has risen in recent years, many fewer one-level houses have been constructed, says John Rygiol, a real estate broker affiliated with the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (www.naeba.org).

"Except where land is cheap and plentiful, most builders are stacking houses two and three stories high," says Rygiol, who notes that many of his home-buying clients find it challenging to locate a single-level house that meets their needs.

Davis says that senior-friendly homes in areas where such domiciles are in short supply could fetch a premium price of up to 10 percent more than homes of similar square footage that lack these features.

But he cautions sellers to make sure that the supply-demand ratio is in their favor before putting a premium price tag on their property.

-- Consider adapting your house to make it more appealing to seniors.

To cater to the burgeoning senior market, some sellers are tempted to renovate their houses to make them more user-friendly. For example, they might consider adding a first-floor master suite. But Davis says such a major investment is usually a mistake -- unless you intend to enjoy the improvement for several years before you move.

"Spending too much on a pre-sale basis is overkill. Normally you can't expect to get any more than 60 percent back for a major addition when you sell," he says.

Still, there are less expensive steps that could be justified by sellers who have the senior market in mind. For example, you might wish to replace shag carpet with laminate flooring to make your rooms easier to navigate by those in wheelchairs.

Also, home sellers who are already planning to redo a kitchen might want to incorporate some easy-to-use features such as low kitchen cabinets and countertops, as well as wide doorways.

"Many people don't wait until they have health problems or need a wheelchair to think about buying a more accessible house. Once they hit their early 60s, they start preparing for their future needs," Davis says.

-- Highlight your home's senior-friendly features to the public.

Any home placed on the Multiple Listing Service can be easily tagged by a listing agent to reflect its senior-friendly features. Because of this, any agent searching on behalf of senior buyers can do a computer check that will locate nearly all the available one-level homes in a neighborhood, as well as those with a first-floor master suite.

But, as Helfant says, the listing agent for a senior-friendly house can do more than just identifying its features through the MLS. Ask your agent to highlight your home's special features through all forms of advertising, including newspapers, Internet and social media.

"These days homebuyers of all ages, including seniors, use many means to collect information about homes that interest them. In fact, by the time they drive up for a visit to a property, they often know more than the agent does about the house," Helfant says.

(To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com.)